Chart features: Several chart types; Admin can create chart for all users ; Users can create their own; Based on a view (“record set”), which can be filtered; Clicking a chart data point filters the view (grid) on which it is based; Can modify chart XML definition to better control format and layout
System charts: Available to all users; created by an admin/customizer; Included with entities in solutions; Can convert to personal chart via exported XML
Personal charts: Can be shared; Same design features as system charts; Not included in solutions but can export chart definition to XML for import; Can convert to system chart via exported XML;
Capabilities/limitations: Shows data from one entity only; Must have at least 1 series and 1 category; Can display up to 5 series, grouped by 1 category or 1 series group by 1 or 2 categories. Cannot display multiple series grouped by more than 1 category. Pie and Funnel charts support only 1 series.
Filtering/sorting: Can use top x or bottom x rules to show greatest or smallest values from the view upon which the chart is based; Sorting is based on chart category except when using a top x or bottom x rule
Designing charts in the UI have more limitations than when created via the SDK. From the UI, you cannot configure: the view the chart represents, the records the chart will include nor the colors to use when the chart is displayed.
Modify/delete: You can modify or delete the charts that CRM installs by default except "Sales Dashboard” (used with tablets).
Date Fields for Categories: Special "Date Time Grouping” option is available. Can select to group by Day, Week, Month, Quarter, Year, Fiscal Period, Fiscal Year.
Creating a chart: Select "View used for chart preview": Must be a public view; for previewing only;
Export chart: Can export system or personal charts to XML; Reasons: make a backup of chart def, export personal chart to change to system chart (or vice versa), to import to different CRM org; XML includes chart name, description, GUID, fields, sorting, chart type, colors, chart layout (axis labels, legend), number formatting; XML does not include version information
Import chart: Can import into any org; CRM 2011 or 2013; When importing, if chart is in target org (by GUID), you can replace the existing chart or keep both
Other: Can "Save as" to make a copy; CRM does not create charts automatically; If chart has 2 categories, best practice is to have separate charts with on 1 category to allow better drill-down;
Sample charts